Advisory Services LTD.: An Interdisciplinary Project Involving Accounting and Technology Students

This paper describes a semester-long project involving senior-level accounting students enrolled in Principles of Auditing and senior technology majors enrolled in a Manufacturing Planning and Management (MPM) class in the School of Technology. As part of their course requirements, the technology students establish a real company, raise capital, market a product, distribute profits/losses, and liquidate the company at semester-end. The accounting students, working in teams, act as advisors (consultants) to this business. Team tasks include developing an accounting system, assisting with the preparation of budgets and financial reports, and analyzing the overall performance of the company. To complete their part of the project, each auditing team must meet with appropriate members of the MPM class, analyze their assigned task, propose a solution or map out a course of action for the MPM students, and prepare both a written and oral report for the MPM students detailing their analysis and findings. Thus, for the auditing students, the project helps hone interpersonal, writing, and oral presenting skills.